  Citation: Cedro, A.; Cedro, B.; Podlasi ´ nski, M. Differences in Growth–Climate Relationships among Scots Pines Growing on Various Dune Generations on the Southern Baltic Coast. Forests 2022, 13, 470. https://doi.org/10.3390/ f13030470 Academic Editor: Daniele Castagneri Received: 4 February 2022 Accepted: 15 March 2022 Published: 17 March 2022 Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affil- iations. Copyright: © 2022 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https:// creativecommons.org/licenses/by/ 4.0/). Article Differences in Growth–Climate Relationships among Scots Pines Growing on Various Dune Generations on the Southern Baltic Coast Anna Cedro 1, * , Bernard Cedro 1 and Marek Podlasi ´ nski 2 1 Institute of Marine & Environmental Sciences, University of Szczecin, Adama Mickiewicza 16, 70-383 Szczecin, Poland; bernard.cedro@usz.edu.pl 2 Department of Environmental Protection, West Pomeranian University of Technology in Szczecin, Slowackiego 17, 71-434 Szczecin, Poland; marek.podlasinski@zut.edu.pl * Correspondence: anna.cedro@usz.edu.pl Abstract: This study focuses on analyzing the growth rate and growth–climate relationship in Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) growing on coastal dunes of different ages on the Southern Baltic coast. Podzols have developed on these dunes. Depending on dune age, however, podzols are characterized by a different degree of development and richness, which represents the main factor differentiating the studied habitats: the oldest brown dunes (BD), younger yellow dunes (YD), and the youngest white dunes (WD). Samples were taken from 68 trees using Pressler borers. Using classic cross-dating methods, local chronologies were compiled that served as the basis for further analyses. Basic analyses of soil properties were also performed. Trees growing on brown dunes display the widest tree-rings and the highest rate of cumulative radial growth. Both rates are the lowest for trees growing on white dunes (WD). The dominant meteorological factor shaping tree-ring widths is late winter/early spring air temperature (February/March). However, in poorer habitats with inferior soil air–water conditions, rainfall sums and rainfall distribution through the year become progressively more significant factors. On white dunes (WD), the strongest growth–climate correlations are obtained for summer precipitation. These results identify habitat richness as the main factor shaping growth dynamics in Scots pines growing on dunes. Due to the protective function of the studied tree stands (coast protection), and in light of the rising sea levels and increasing storm intensities, further studies are required, aiming at understanding all interrelationships occurring in these valuable ecosystems. Keywords: dunes; podzols; Scots pine; Pinus sylvestris L.; tree-ring width; dendroclimatology; Baltic Sea; Poland 1. Introduction Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) is one of the most common subjects of dendrochronolog- ical analyses, i.a., due to its broad distribution in both Europe and Asia, as well as mass plantings in numerous countries [1–3]. The growth–climate relationships for this species are well-known from various locations (distinct climate zones), various substrates (e.g., fens, dunes), and from areas prone to various impacts, both natural (e.g., insect gradations or wildfires) and anthropogenic (e.g., air, soil or groundwater pollution) [4–15]. Pine-based chronologies spanning multiple centuries are the basis for dating archeological objects, works of art, various types of wooden constructions, and utensils [9,14,16–19]. In the South- ern and Eastern Baltic coast regions, Scots pine is also the main focus of dendrochronological studies, e.g., [12,13,20–23], apart from the native oak species (Quercus robur and Q. petrea). Numerous studies point to late winter and early spring air temperatures (February and March) as the dominant factor shaping tree-ring width in Scots pine [4,8,9,11,24–26]. Cli- mate warming observed in recent decades (especially affecting the winter–spring transition) causes the vegetation season to become extended, and results in improved pine growth Forests 2022, 13, 470. https://doi.org/10.3390/f13030470 https://www.mdpi.com/journal/forests